Theo Walcott ‘omitted from latest round of Arsenal contract talks’

Theo Walcott’s Arsenal future looks increasingly bleak after he was reportedly omitted from the club’s latest round of contract talks.

Running out of time: Arsenal’s Theo Walcott (Picture: EPA)

Gunners chiefs have stepped up their efforts to tie a number of first-team starlets down to new deals, including Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain, Kieran Gibbs and Emmanuel Frimpong.

But Walcott was allegedly excluded from the recent discussions, prompting speculation he could be offloaded by the club in January.

The winger has not started a single Premier League game for Arsenal this season, with manager Arsene Wenger preferring to use Lukas Podolski, Oxlade-Chamberlain or Gervinho as his wide options.

Walcott insists negotiations over a new deal hinge on whether he’ll be given a chance in his preferred position as a central striker, although rumours persist his management team are pushing to net him wages of £100,000-a-week, whereas Arsenal are only prepared to go as high as £70,000.

The 23-year-old, who is currently nursing a chest injury, is wanted by Liverpool, Chelsea, Manchester City and Juventus – who would all be able to sign the ex-Southampton man on a pre-contract in January.

Walcott though, may be in-line for a return to the Arsenal starting XI if he recovers in time for the weekend clash with QPR, as the Gunners seek to inject some much-needed pace into their side which has now lost two games in a week.